Fish net



Feb. 11, 1941.A

H. R. CLARK 2,231,798

FISH NET Filed Apri124. 1940 Patented Feb. 11, 1941 U NTED `STATESOFFICE i, FISH NET Application Apriizi, 1940,; serial m5331476 n'4"Claims.

This invention relates to a fish net, `and more particularly to anetwhich can be used to catch iish'in ylarge quantities in diierentbodies of water, including still or runningwater.

Heretofore nets of various kinds have -been usedwith the ever presentproblem ofI determiningY the proper size of twine or cord=employed informing the mesh, the usual practice being to provide a net with theweakest part sufficient to withstand all the stress or strain to whichthenet was to be subjected. This resulted in a proportionately heavystructure and veven then where large hauls were made concentration offorce or strain frequently resulted in breaking the net, thus releasingall the fish. y

It is an object of the invention Ato provide a net of simpleconstruction capable of being secured in cperativeposition to stakes orthe like in more or less fixed position or adapted to be dragged throughwater for catching sh, and a net so constructed that the weight or forceof the haul will not be concentrated in any particular area but will bedistributed in the net, thereby distributing the stress and strain. Itis a further object of the invention to provide means for preventing theloss of all the sh, should a portion of the net be broken, the sh inthat particular area only being lost.

Other objects and the nature and advantages of the invention will beapparent from the following description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front view of a net in accordance with the present inventionfastened to stakes in operative position;

Fig. 2, a horizontal section;

Fig 3, an enlarged horizontal section of a portion of the net; and

Fig. el, a vertical section.

In carrying out the invention a net is provided which consists generallyof a plurality of compartments for retaining sh therein, 'for purpose ofillustration four such compartments being shown. However, it is to beunderstood that the number of compartments and. the length and width ofthe same, or in other words the size of the net, is dependent upon theuse to which the net is to be put. Also, the size of the cord or twineof which the net is fabricated and the size of the mesh is likewisedependent upon the use to which the net is to be put.

Each of the compartments is provided with one or more passages orthroats aiording access of the iish into the net. For purposes ofillustration each compartment is provided with three `upperand threelowen entrances or throats-which have been found satisfactory in use,the ifour compartments having a total of `twenty-four such passages.

The -four compartmentsvare denedby three partitions, onefcenter and twoside partitions. The side "partitions are Y provided v`*with passages,and in order that the liish may only travel through lsaid passagestowards-the end ofthe net from the Vmorel f centrally 'i locatedvcompartments the 1,0

passages aredefned by tapered or'funnel-shaped portions. Thecenterpartition does not have a passage f for theriirst therethrough.

Referring to "the-drawing,v al substantiallyV rectangular netting I0' isprovided [to form the i15 rear-of the net. Tofthisflis nattached.av-shorter, narrower netting II, 'thev connection being at theextremities and sides-ofx thesame-to thereby provide a single elongatedcompartment or chamber which is sub-divided by a central partition I2,and side partitions I3, defining four cornpartments. The centerpartition serves to prevent the fish from passing the same from onecompartment to another, while the end partitions are provided withelongated outwardly extended throats or passages which permit the sh topass from the compartments adjacent the center partition outwardly intothe end compartments, thereby immediately and continually distributingboth the haul weight of the fish and the consequent stress and strainupon the net evenly or substantially so throughout the length -of thenet.

The partitions I2 and I3 determine the relative position or spacing ofthe front and rear portions of the netting and reinforce the net. Thefront member II is provided with entrance portions or throats I5 ofwhich there are twenty-four, six to each compartment, three over three.

The net may be of the nonrigid type and may be used as a drag net or, asillustrated, a set net. When used as a set net, supporting andreinforcing strands I6 and I'I are attached to stakes I8. These strandsextend throughout the length of the net and serve to keep the net inproper position for catching fish. The strands I'I are taut and thusmaintain the front of the net likewise taut in upright position with theentrance portions or throats I5 spread so that sh may pass through them.Cross strands I9 serve to tie together the longitudinal strands I6.

The upper and lower strands I'I are provided respectively with spacedfloats 20 and sinkers or weights 2I for maintaining the net in properlyspread substantially vertical position.

The laterally extended throats I4 are `held in extended position bymeans of strands 22 and the front entrances or throats l5 are kept inproper expanded relation by means of strands 23 engaging the rear of thenet.

It will be readily understood that a net in accordance with the presentinvention is of lightest weight possible commensurate with the uses 'towhich it is to be subjected and that due to the compartments or pockets,the load of sh is distributed along the length of the net andaccordingly the net is not subjected to extraordinary stresses orstrains. Likewise if the net is damaged', only the fish in thatparticular compartment or pocket are lost.

It will be obvious to these skilled in the art that various changes maybe made in this device vWith'- out departing from the spirit of theinvention, and

therefore the invention is not limited to Ywhat isA shown in thedrawings and described in the specification but only as indicated in theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A load-distributing sh net of the non-rigid type comprising a rearwall member and a front wall member dening an enclosure, partition meansdividing said enclosure into central and side compartments, said centraland side compartments having frontal entrance means adapted to admit thecatch directly into said central and side compartments throughout thelength of said net, a common side wall of said central compartmentsbeing closed to the passage of any portion of the desired catch, theside walls of the side compartments adjoining the central compartmentsbeing provided 'with passage means adapted to permit the travel of thecatch therethrough to adjoining side compartments of said net, saidpassage means being adapted to restrain the return of the catchtherethrough, whereby the load of the catch will be distributedthroughout the effective area of the net.

2. The combination of claim 1 including supporting strands extendinglengthwise from end to end of the net in spaced relation and maintainingthe front of the net in upright operative position, weights spaced alongthe lower portion of the net, floats spaced along the upper portion ofthe net, the rear portion of the net being relatively full in proportionto the front portion, said partition means connecting the front and rearand top and bottom portions of the net and reinforcing and maintainingthe parts in proper relation, vand strands maintaining the entranceportions of the net normally toward the interior of the compartments.

3. The combination of claim 1 including longitudinal strands supportingone side of the net in a substantially vertical plane, the remainingportion of the net adjacent said side being relatively full to providespace for iish within the net, oats along the upper portion of the net,and sinkers along the lower portion of the net.

4. The combination of claim 1 including means for supporting the netwith its front portion in upright position, said means comprisingstrands extending lengitudinally of the net and other strands extendingtransversely between the longitudinal strands, said longitudinal andtransverse strands dening said entrance means for aiording access intothe interior of the net substantially throughout its length and saidpartition means extending from front to back of the net between certainof said entrance means.

HARRY R. CLARK.

